By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER
Hays Post

They’ve been playing baseball together since both were seven years old. Friday, Hays High seniors Jared Haynes and Cole Schumacher signed their National Letters of Intent to play baseball for Fort Hays State University.

Haynes got his first chance to play on the varsity level midway through his sophomore year. Due to injuries, Haynes got an opportunity to be in the line-up of the second game of a double header with Garden City. He hasn’t left the lineup since. In that first varsity game Haynes went collected two hits, scored a run and stole a base.

Jared Haynes

Haynes selected FHSU on the basis that it just felt right and his father played football for the Tigers as well. He is a career .333 hitter. Haynes has also appeared on the mound in two games. Once in a starting role and once in relief.

Coach Frank Leo About Jared Haynes

Schumacher has seen varsity time since his freshman season. Used primarily as a pitcher that season, he did bat in nine games. It was his sophomore season that started out the new Tiger with a bang. Schumacher hit safely in 15 of the first 16 games that year. His junior year did not yield the number of hits one would expect out of a lead-off hitter, but thanks to a keen eye Schumacher was able to walk 25 times to tied the school record for walks in a single season. His 36 career free passes has him just two outside of the career top ten list.

Cole Schumacher

Schumacher is a career .291 hitter and has also seen time on the mound. He posted a 1.57 ERA as a junior posting a 5-2 record. Schumacher threw a team high 50.2 innings last season striking out 45 and walking 19. For his career Schumacher is 11-2 with a 1.74 ERA over 92.1 innings in 22 total appearances.

Cole’s older sister Katelyn is a member of the KU softball team.

Coach Frank Leo About Cole Schmacher